Goals Come Early and Often in Utica's Big Win Over D'Youville
Buffalo, N.Y. (9/14/2011) – All four of the Pioneers goals came in the first 28 minutes of play as the Utica College women’s soccer team defeated host D’Youville College 4-2 in a non-conference contest Wednesday afternoon. Four different Pioneers found the back of the net, including three who scored their first goal of the year, as the Pioneers jumped out to a quick lead and hung on for the two goal victory.
UC, which recently lost a very tight one goal contest at Oswego, evened its record up at 2-2 on the year headed into theirfifth straight non conference contest at RPI on Saturday.
Former Empire 8 All-Conference selection Jill Benoit got the Pioneers on the board early, as she scored her fourth career goal, to give Utica a 1-0 advantage just 1:54 into the contest. Sophomore Sarah Southwell, who finished with a game-high two helpers, was responsible for the assist on the Pioneers’ opening tally. Southwell now has six points on two goals and two assists for UC this season.
D’Youville answered right back with a goal at the six minute ledger, but it wouldn’t be long before Utica leading scorer Samantha Spohler made her presence felt. 3:25 after D’Youville’s equalizer, Spohler tallied her conference-best fifth goal of the season, assisted by Southwell, to put the Pioneers back on top 2-1.
UC would not surrender that lead for the remainder of the contest, and sophomore Quinn Freeman-Roche made sure of it by giving the Pioneers a two goal advantage midway through the tenth minute of the game. Freeman-Roche’s first intercollegiate goal came off a free kick to give UC a commanding 3-1 lead at 10:29.
Even though it was still very early in the contest, senior defender Sarah Munyon was able to secure the Pioneers’ victory when she took advantage of a giveaway by D’Youville keeper Shelby Sargent, and netted her first collegiate goal to give UC a 4-1 lead in the 27th minute. It was a proud moment for Munyon who has played in 37 career games for UC over the course of four seasons.
The Pioneers would give one back in the 56th minute, but senior goalie Samantha Glockling’s five save effort was enough to ensure a victory for Utica.
Interestingly enough, D’Youville earned a 6-0 corner kick advantage on the afternoon, but the Pioneers outshot the home team 15-11.
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